How to phase out AK-47s: turn them into high-end jewellery

This article was taken from the May 2012 issue of Wired
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There are an estimated 20 million assault rifles in Africa, making the
continent a perilous place to live -- and invest -- in. So one
social enterprise, Fonderie 47, is setting out to reduce that
number by transforming the AK-47's recyclable materials into
jewellery.

Founded in November 2011 by Peter Thum, a social entrepreneur
and the force behind Ethos
Water, and John Zapolski, a designer and business adviser, New
York-based Fonderie 47 buys
decommissioned AK-47s in the Democratic Republic of Congo and melts
them down into high-quality steel. This, along with recycled gold
and semi-precious stones, is turned into cufflinks, rings and
earrings by high-end jewellery designers Roland Iten and Philip
Grangi. The jewellery is sold for between $25,000 (£15,000), for
a ring, and $150,000 (£93,700), for a pair of earrings. The
money is funnelled back to the DRC via UK charity Mines Advisory Group
(MAG), where it is used to buy up and destroy more AK-47s. Thum
says a pair of cufflinks ($35,000 or £22,000) funds the purchase
and destruction of 100 rifles.

Fonderie 47 won't say how much money it has raised so far, but
MAG says it has destroyed 7,000 guns thanks to jewellery sales.
Nicely targeted.

...And other ways upcysling is going
upscale

Obsolete LPs to fashion jewellery:
Marni designer Consuela Castiglioni has launched a range of
necklaces, earrings and bracelets made using vinyl records -- the
grooves are a desirable feature.marni.com

Old Coke-bottles to classic chairs:
Commissioned by Coca-Cola and developed by Emeco and BASF, the
Emeco 111 Navy Chair remakes a design classic, built with 111
recycled plastic Coke bottles.emecowithcoke.com

Waste and Scraps to artisan 'objet':
Hermès has created Petit h -- around 2,000 "objets" made from
rejects and leftovers found on its workshops' floors, such as coat
hooks made from old teapot spouts.hermes.com